Today, U.S. President Donald Trump stood before the world and said that he trusts Russian dictator Vladimir Putin more than the U.S. federal law enforcement and intelligence community.
The U.S. government has gathered strong, specific evidence of an act of war by Russia against the United States, bringing criminal indictments against 12 high-ranking Russian government officials for hacking into American servers in an attempt to influence the 2016 election.
Instead of standing with the FBI, showing strength to defend the United States from foreign aggression, and using his meeting with Putin to warn him that acts of cyber warfare will not be tolerated, President Trump repudiated the work of his own law enforcement and intelligence agencies and, against all evidence, denied Russia’s involvement in the hacking.
This is inconsistent with the role of a U.S. president. Donald Trump has sided with a foreign adversary against the United States. Whether or not this is technically “treason,” he has forfeited the right to serve as president.
American political leaders — both Republicans and Democrats — must now call upon Donald Trump to resign. The call to resign should be led by elder statesmen such as former presidents and long-serving, respected members of Congress. The call to resign must be concerted and sustained. It must be stated and restated by patriotic American leaders in every media interview from now on, so that it becomes a constant drumbeat that cannot be ignored.
The American people should expect nothing less from our leaders at this crucial time in our nation’s history. ”Resign, Mr. Trump. You have thrown our nation’s law enforcement under the bus and publicly allied yourself with a foreign dictator whose government hacked into our electoral system. You are no longer qualified to serve as President of the United States. Resign now, Mr. President.”
This should be the clarion call by leaders of conscience in our nation’s political dialogue from now on. Nothing less is sufficient. And it should not cease until Trump indeed resigns or is removed from office.
Whether or not such a mobilization of public pressure will work is irrelevant. The situation is so grave, so critical for the future of our republic, that there is a moral duty to take a stand.